Friday, May 9, 2014

Boris

My male staff's typing is bad enough at the best of times, but at the moment he can barely see through the tears that won't stop welling up in his eyes. Our beautiful friend Boris passed away yesterday evening and my staff haven't stopped crying since. Is it possible for humans to love an animal too much? Of course not, but my goodness, don't you humans suffer when you lose one of us. My male staff woke in the middle of the saying "My heart is breaking!" It sounded as though it was too. I could hear him sobbing for hours from my cage in the living room.

Yesterday seemed fairly routine to begin with. though my staff were a little worried because the night before they'd found a little blood in Boris' urine. My male staff took him to the vet first thing in the morning, he seemed normal, alert, happy and was eating well. (Boris that is, not my male staff, he's rarely happy and alert, though he does eat well.) The vet examined him, palpating his tummy and nether regions while my male staff stroked his head and told him what a good piggy he was.

The vet said that she would give Boris an ultra sound scan to see if she could see a bladder stone that may have been causing the blood in his urine. At that point Boris lifted his little face and looked directly at my male staff with those huge, round, liquid eyes of his. It was a look that said simply "I trust you." It is this look that keeps haunting my male staff, causing him to burst into tears all too frequently. The ultra sound showed nothing abnormal, so the vet told my male staff to leave Boris there and she'd do an x-ray that afternoon to see if that showed anything.

So, my male staff left Boris at the surgery and got on with the rest of his day. Later that afternoon the vet called to say that the x-ray did indeed confirm that Boris had a bladder stone and that since these stones cannot be dissolved, not in guinea pigs at least, the best option was to operate, open Boris up and remove the stone before it moved down into his urethra. If that happens things get really serious.
The vet went through the obligatory spiel about the risks of surgery, but my male staff felt that it was the right thing to do and the vet agreed.

We all waited. Then at seven that evening the vet phoned with the news that the operation had not gone well. Between the x-ray and the operation the stone had indeed moved into Boris' urethra. This meant that the vet had to try to flush it back into the bladder. However, in attempting this, the urethra ruptured, probably due to the stone weakening the walls. The vet was explaining all this to my male staff. "He's still with us," she said and then explained the likely outcome of continuing with the surgery. In such small animals as us piggies, once the urethra ruptures it's virtually impossible to mend. She said they could give him a catheter, but in all likelihood it would fail, causing poor Boris to be in agony. In any case, they still hadn't found the offending bladder stone which had escaped into his body cavity when his urethra ruptured. My staff agreed that it would be best to let him go to the Rainbow Bridge.

Before the vet gave him the final needle my staff went to the surgery to say goodbye. He was laying on the operating table covered in a blanket, with a gas mask over his little nose and mouth. He was asleep and looked at peace. All humans who have ever loved an animal will know the excruciating pain of the final farewell. My staff kissed and stroked him one last time and went home. Boy! Did Baci and I get a damned good cuddling. We hardly knew what hit us. Our fur is still wet from all the tears.

First thing this morning my male staff went to the vet to collect Boris' body. He still looked so very peaceful. My staff placed him gently in a shoebox with a nice juicy piece of basil and buried him under the Evodia tree next to Badger.

Still, it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good and from this sad event my staff have finally learned that guinea pigs, far from being just a bunch of cute rodents, are put on earth by some higher intelligence to promote peace, love and good will. Except those who end up in Peru. They are there to provide lunch. We as individuals are here for just a short time because the higher intelligence knows only too well that we quickly grow tired with the hard work of persuading humans that love is more productive than hate. The higher intelligence recognised that Boris had done more than his fair share and decided to bring him home.

The boys and I heart broken to hear of Boris passing. Mom had a male piggie that had the same operation. He got through it. He lived a year after that. When she read the part about the mask she lost it. Our heart's are breaking for your staff. So much loss in a short time. He was such a sweet soul taking care of Baci and learning english. I'm glad he is it not in pain anymore since he has crossed the rainbow bridge. I have no doubt he is happy playing with all the little souls there. Billy please tell your staff especially your male staff not to feel guilt. Some little souls are meant to stay awhile with us some are not. They were meant to be angels to us here on earth and over the rainbow bridge. It doesn't make the hurt of loss any easier. Remeber the good times and what he taught you about life and love. All our love, Alaisha & Homeslice &Steve

Alaisha, thanks for those beautiful wise words. We weren't even sure how old he was. The rescue place thought he was about 4. I can't believe he was only with us since September. He seemed like part of the furniture and seemed so well & happy that we thought we'd enjoy his company for at least a couple of years. Still, he's in a better place now.

I am so so soooo sad to read this Billy. Sending big hugs and much love to your staff and two surviving pigs. We understand the pain- we are living it right now at our house. There is no such thing as too much love, but it certainly feels like it when one of us goes. My girl can only describe it as having part of her soul amputated. Having had her soul amputated 5 times in the past few weeks, all she does now is cry, sleep and stare at walls. Please know you are not alone in your grief and it will get better with time. What a gorgeous pig Boris was-stunningly beautiful. My girl would have taken him to surgery as well. Once a stone begins causing problems, there is not really much choice and if you do nothing you end up in an even worse situation. Sadly this could not have been avoided. So many of our kind get almost NO love in this world. We are regarded as someone's dinner in Peru, as a child's toy pet in the US. How wonderful it is to have been loved so much! My soul still glows on the other side from all the love and energy sent my way. I am glad Boris was loved enough that someone's heart breaks at his passing. Those broken hearts heal with time and the love lives on through eternity. Tell the staff to hang in there- it will get better in time. *guinea pig kisses*-Puppy the Guinea Pig, International and Multidimensional Rodent Superstar

Puppy - I'm so sad for your girl. I've only just seen your latest heartbreaking news. I don't know what to say. Each time I lose one of my boys, it feels like a part of me goes too. You are in my thoughts. Your girl is so brave and strong xx

Puppy & Girl my old friends. Thank you sooooooooo much for the kind, wise and beautiful words. My staff and I can certainly relate to the amputated soul analogy. So, so true. It is no wonder that you are indeed an International and Multidimensional Rodent Superstar.

I'm so sorry. I can barely write this as I lost one of my piggys in exactly the same situation. Even had a call to say that he was okay and I was on my way to collect him when I was told that he had developed complications as he was in recovery and had died. Blood clot.

I spent yesterday at the vets with my oldest boy. He has cancer and its now spread to his chest. He's had steroids yesterday to try and shrink the tumour but if he's no better by Monday, I have to let him go. My heart is breaking too.

I know it won't help to make you feel better, but I am thinking of you. I hope the pain eases soon. Sleep tight little Boris. xx

Thank you. You are very brave and selfless to think of us at such a painful time for yourself. I know what you are going through and it really does help to have the support of friends at such times. I sincerely hope that things go well for your poorly little man. Please let me know how things work out. Love Billy and staff.

I've been back to the vet today. My boy is dying but has responded to the steriods that he had on Friday. He's had more today. He isn't in pain and is eating a little, so hopefully with medication and care, I'll have another couple of weeks with him. He s being closely guarded by another in the herd! I feel very lucky compared to what you've had to go through. Thank you again for your kind words and thoughts. xx

Hugs to you and your beloved little boy. As long as he's eating and pooping there's still hope. My staff thought I was a goner a couple of years ago when I had thrush. I pulled through and here I am today as large as life and twice as handsome. We'll follow his progress with interest and are sending all the positive thoughts we can muster. Love Billy & staff.

Hello Alice and piggies. Thank you for your kind thoughts. We all miss him every single day. He was one in a million. I have no idea how to replace "Boris' Bit" at the end of my blog. I do hope that you and your beautiful herd are all fit and well.